All Freestone County Employees, including elected officials, will receive a 2% raise at the beginning of the next fiscal year, which begins October 1, 2018.

County Commissioners approved this raise during their last meeting on Wednesday, July 15th following much debate. Several different motions were made, and denied, before reaching this outcome.

This raise will cost the County approximately $100,000 for the year.

Abstaining from the vote was Commissioner, Pct. 2 Craig Oakes.

“I don’t want to vote on salary right now because we don’t know what we are dealing with on the budget yet,” explains Oakes. “Personally, I’m satisfied with what I’ve got now.”

Employees will also see an increase of County contribution to their medical insurance, as cost for said insurance has gone up.

Previously, the contribution was $760 per employee, per month. It has gone up $15, which makes it $775 per employee, per month. That’s an extra $180 per year that does not come out of the employees’ pocketbook.

Also at this meeting, Commissioners unanimously approved to adopt a PROPOSED Tax Rate of .35947, which is a 2-cent increase. This is not the final tax rate, but simply allows Commissioners the option of raising it to this amount, no higher. That doesn’t necessarily mean it will be raised to that amount.

This possible increase is by recommendation of County Judge Linda Grant.

“With this Capital Murder trial coming up, and not knowing how much it will cost, I strongly recommend at least a 1-cent increase, if not, 2,” says Judge Grant. “We will have large expenditures, well above and beyond past expenditures.”

A 1-cent increase will give the county an extra $230,000 to work into the budget for covering the major expense of a Capital Murder Trial.

Commissioners will vote on the Effective Tax Rate later this summer.

In addition, Commissioners accepted the retirement of long-time County Treasurer Kay Taylor as of July 25, 2018. Jeanie Keeney will finish out the term before beginning her elected term in January 2018.

The next Commissioners Court meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1st beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the County Court Room. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Meetings are recorded and may be viewed on YouTube.

Nicole Schaefer reporting